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PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR
| Stop praising Verizon ....
Yea, so VZ is deploying fiber to a select portion of their subscriber base. But they are also choosing to not deploy even basic DSL to millions of other subscribers - subscribers who will never see FIOS. Subscribers in areas who, according to an analysis in the latest edition of DSLPrime, they could serve, AND make a profit (albeit may not quite as high an ROI as selling pay-TV via fiber to affluent suburbanites).
In another country, VZ would be incentivized by a tax credit or some other policy incentive to re-think this. But we'd rather be free-market ideologues here, than endeavor to be leaders in 21st century technology-driven economic growth. Good thing we didn't have this thinking in the 1950's, or we'd have no freeways.
Qwest is often dissed by the urban-dwelling press for not deploying "advanced" broadband in urban/suburban areas, but they've done a much better job at general deployment of basic DSL throughout their territory. It's very interesting driving around the VZ/Qwest boundary in the rural areas here: roads in Qwest territory are sprinkled with those mini-DSLAM's, and DSL is available. On the VZ side of the line, in contrast, there's NO DSL available, even in neighborhoods where the remote terminal's recently been upgraded. VZ field crews confirmed they're pro-actively not deploying DSL, even where they can. | |
KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Speakeasy
| I would be very surprised that if someone offered VZ (or any ILEC) cash incentives to build-out to areas they otherwise would not, as long as those incentives covered the ILEC's costs, it would pass in a flash, without a peep from our so-called free-market supporters.
The folks who most strongly advocate laissez-faire policies are generally those who only mean it when it helps to further entrench the dominant players.
KM | |
PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR
| Yea, the free-market supporters seem to change their tune when it comes to giving taxpayer money to deep-pocket campaign contributors (e.g., Bear Sterns).
Verizon's Gov't Affairs VP has been testifying in DC that they want such incentives before they deploy DSL further. I think they're basically holding those subscribers in low-margin areas hostage as a "bargaining chip" in this negotiation, figuring they'll come out ahead in the long run, if they can get a USF-like boondoogle in place for broadband. | |
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